Oral Surgery Anesthesia

At Virginia Advanced Surgical Arts, your comfort and safety is our top priority. That’s why we offer an array of options for anesthesia.

Our highly-trained and experienced oral surgery team works with patients to choose the best approach based on their procedure, needs, and preferences.

Unlike doctors who rely on sedation dentistry — which tends to use inexact oral medication for patient comfort — our oral surgeons are certified to use the full range of anesthetic techniques for our patients.

The Differences Between Sedation Dentistry
And Oral Surgery Anesthesia

Sedation dentistry is a method that practitioners sometimes use to increase patient comfort during dental procedures. It typically involves some type of oral medication for reducing anxiety.

However, sedation dentistry is not as predictable and controllable as the types of anesthesia that oral and maxillofacial surgeons like Dr. Vigliante, Dr. Gocke, Dr. McAdams, and Dr. Thomas can provide.

Our oral & maxillofacial surgeons can provide anesthetic options, such as IV sedation, that are more targeted and precise than oral sedation.

Their techniques allow for careful monitoring, and they can deliver the right amount of medication based on a patient’s height, weight, and metabolism. These options also wear off shortly after a procedure ends, so patients should not feel groggy following their visit.

An Overview Of Anesthesia With Virginia
Advanced Surgical Arts

Our patients may receive one or a combination of the following anesthetic options.

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is an injectable medication that completely numbs the treatment area. Patients who receive only a local anesthetic remain awake throughout their procedure. They don’t feel pain, but they may sense pressure during their procedure. Every patient receives local anesthesia as part of their treatment.

EXPAREL®

In certain procedures, like wisdom teeth removal, Dr. Gocke will apply EXPAREL to the surgical site. EXPAREL is a non-opioid, long-lasting pain medication. The anesthetic greatly enhances the patient’s experience after surgery and has the added benefit of limiting exposure to potentially addictive opioids.

Nitrous Oxide

If patients want to relax a little during their procedure, our oral surgeons can provide nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas. This option simply takes the edge off and offers a calming effect without putting you to sleep. Unlike sedation dentistry, however, our surgeons can control the flow of nitrous oxide as well as help patients recover quickly once the procedure ends.

IV Sedation

For procedures such as dental implant placement and bone grafting, our patients typically receive anesthesia through an intravenous line. Our oral surgeons are certified to perform IV anesthesia in-office and carefully monitor patients throughout their treatment.

With this option, patients experience a deep calm similar to twilight sleep, during which they don’t feel or remember anything about their procedure.

Typically, patients come into the treatment room, watch a little TV or Netflix while they breathe in nitrous oxide, and, once they are extremely relaxed, the surgeon starts the IV line and administers the anesthetic. Most patients are surprised at how quickly time passes during their visit.

Afterward, patients move to a separate and private recovery room where they can have heaters and blankets to keep them comfortable. At this point, a family member or other caregiver can join them and wait until they are ready to head home. Patients cannot drive for 24 hours after IV anesthesia.